U.S. patent number 6,657,140 [Application Number 10/234,390] was granted by the patent office on 2003-12-02 for system for controlling a window operator.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Siemens VDO Automotive. Invention is credited to Dominique Rantet.
United States Patent |
6,657,140 |
Rantet |
December 2, 2003 |
System for controlling a window operator
Abstract
This system includes a control part (6) permitting controlling
the opening and closing of an associated window, having three
separate control zones (F, M, O). In the automatic mode, when the
corresponding window has been entirely opened or closed, a push on
a predetermined control zone advantageously controls the movement
of the window into the position in which it was before its complete
opening or closing.
Inventors: |
Rantet; Dominique (Beaumont sur
Leze, FR) |
Assignee: |
Siemens VDO Automotive
(Toulouse Cedex, FR)
|
Family
ID: |
8867055 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/234,390 |
Filed: |
September 5, 2002 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
|
|
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Sep 7, 2001 [FR] |
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01 11580 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
200/5R;
200/52R |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01H
13/702 (20130101); E05Y 2400/356 (20130101); E05Y
2400/86 (20130101); E05Y 2900/55 (20130101); H01H
2217/018 (20130101); H01H 2217/024 (20130101); H01H
2231/026 (20130101); H01H 2239/078 (20130101); H01H
2300/01 (20130101); H01H 2300/012 (20130101); E05F
15/00 (20130101); E05Y 2400/35 (20130101); E05Y
2800/00 (20130101); E05Y 2800/73 (20130101); E05Y
2400/852 (20130101); E05F 15/689 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
H01H
13/702 (20060101); H01H 13/70 (20060101); H01H
013/70 () |
Field of
Search: |
;338/179,154,69,89
;200/5R,1R,5A ;307/10.1,9.1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Enad; Elvin
Assistant Examiner: Fishman; M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Young & Thompson
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A control device for controlling a window operator, comprising
control means (6) permitting controlling the opening and closing of
an associated window, characterized in that the control means has
three zones (F, M, O) of separate control, the control means having
an automatic mode, when the corresponding window has been entirely
opened or closed, a push on a predetermined control zone controls
the movement of the window into the position in which the window
was before its complete opening or closing.
2. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that a
control zone (M) permits continuous control.
3. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the
control means (6) is constituted by a button sensitive to tactile
control.
4. Control device according to claim 3, characterized in that the
sensitive button comprises two conductive zones (O, F) reacting to
the pressure of a finger of a user as well as a resistive zone (M),
disposed between the two conductive zones, and reacting both to a
push and also a movement of a finger of a user.
5. Control device according to claim 3, characterized in that the
sensitive button with tactile control includes, on a same support,
control means (10) of a device separate from the corresponding
window operator.
6. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the
control means has at least one of its ends a raised flange (8).
7. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the
control zones (F, N, O) are aligned on a concave surface on an arc
of a circle.
8. Process for controlling an electric window operator with a
control device having a control means (6) permitting controlling
the opening and closing of an associated window, the control means
having three zones (F, M, O) of separate control and in that in
automatic mode, when the corresponding window has been entirely
opened or closed, a push on a predetermined control zone controls
the movement of the window into the position in which the window
was before its complete opening or closing.
9. Process for controlling an electric window operator according to
claim 8, in which a control zone permits continuous control,
characterized in that an action on the control zone permitting
continuous control is used to carry out manual adjustment of the
position of the corresponding window whilst an action on the two
other control zones of the control device is used to carry out
automatic adjustment of the position of this window.
10. Control device according to claim 2, characterized in that the
control means (6) is constituted by a button sensitive to tactile
control.
11. Control device according to claim 4, characterized in that the
sensitive button with tactile control includes, on a same support,
control means (10) of a device separate from the corresponding
window operator.
12. Control device of claim 1, in which a control zone permits
continuous control, characterized in that an action on the control
zone permitting continuous control is used to carry out manual
adjustment of the position of the corresponding window whilst an
action on the two other control zones of the control device is used
to carry out automatic adjustment of the position of this window.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system for controlling a window
operator. It relates on the one hand to a control device for a
widow operator and on the other hand to a process for controlling a
window operator. The invention relates solely to electric window
operators.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Systems for controlling window operators known at present comprise
a mechanism adapted to raise and lower a window as well as an
electric motor driving this mechanism. The electric motor is
controlled by a rocking button having two positions. This rocking
button controls the window operator in the manual mode and in the
automatic mode. In the manual mode, a pressure is maintained on the
rocking button, in one or the other of the positions which it can
take, until the desired position of the window is achieved.
In the automatic mode, two principles are generally used. Each of
these principles relates to a technically different device but
controlled each time by a rocking button with two positions.
According to a first principle, an impulse of short duration on the
rocking button controls the complete opening and closing of the
window. According to another principle, using a double switch, for
each position of the rocking button, a stronger force on this
button permits selecting the automatic mode.
These two principles have drawbacks. In the first principle, an
action on the pushbutton seeking, in the manual mode, to adjust the
position of the window, can be interpreted by the control system or
the window operator as an instruction in the automatic control
mode. For the second principle, the quantity of effort to be
exerted to carry out an action in the manual mode or in the
automatic mode is not obvious for all users.
It should also be noted that for the two principles described
above, the automatic mode does not permit having access to an
intermediate position but solely to entirely open or entirely close
positions of the window.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention thus has for its object to provide a system
for controlling a window operator, permitting having access more
easily to the automatic mode and to the manual mode. Preferably,
this system will permit, in the automatic mode, access to
intermediate open positions. It will also preferably be more user
friendly and ergonomic than the present systems.
To this end, the device which it provides is a control device for a
window operator or the like, comprising a control means permitting
controlling the opening and closing of an associated window.
According to the invention, the control means has three separate
control zones.
The present invention relates more particularly to electric window
operators but can also relate to an electrically opening roof for
example.
The fact of providing three separate control zones permits
facilitating access to the manual and automatic modes. One or
several zones can be reserved for the use of one of these modes.
There can also be provided a zone permitting choosing an operation
mode, automatic or manual, whilst the other zones thus permit
controlling the raising and lowering of the corresponding window
(or the like, which is to say for example opening and closing an
openable roof).
To offer the greatest comfort of use and greatest flexibility of
use, it can be provided that one control zone permits continuous
control in the manner of a cursor. This embodiment is also
ergonomic.
In a preferred embodiment of the control device, the control means
is preferably constituted by a button sensitive to tactile control.
In this embodiment, the sensitive button comprises for example two
conductive zones reacting to the pressure of a finger of a user as
well as a resistive zone, disposed between the two conductive
zones, and reacting both to a push and also to a movement of a
finger of a user.
In the case in which the control device comprises a button
sensitive to tactile control, this latter preferably integrates, on
a same support, control means of a separate device of the
corresponding window opener. This control thus includes also a
control device to carry out adjustment of the rearview mirrors.
To facilitate "blind" marking of the control device according to
the invention, which is to say so that the user need not look,
above all but not only when control is tactile, it can be provided
that the control means has at at least one of its ends a raised
flange. Tactile references (notches, groves, asperities, etc) can,
as a supplement or replacement, be disposed on the control means
itself.
For better ergonomics of the control device, the control zones are
preferably aligned on a surface incurved on the arc of a circle or
the like. Thus, the finger of a user can move over the three
control regions without the corresponding palm of a hand having to
move.
The present invention also relates to a control process for an
electric window operator or the like with the help of a control
circuit as described above.
According to this process, in the automatic mode, when the
corresponding window has been entirely opened or closed, a push on
a predetermined control zone causes the movement of the window into
the position in which it was before its complete opening or
closing.
This process thus permits providing an automatic mode with an
intermediate position of the corresponding window (or opening roof
for example). There is thus provided a function which is not
present in any automotive vehicle sold at present.
This control process of an electric window operator or the like,
according to the invention, in the case in which the control device
comprises a control zone permitting a continuous control,
preferably provides that an action on the control zone permitting
continuous control, is used to carry out a manual adjustment of the
position of the corresponding window whilst an action on the two
other control zones of the control device is used to carry out an
automatic adjustment of the position of this window.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The details and advantages of the present invention will become
better apparent from the description which follows, given with
reference to the accompanying schematic drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automotive vehicle armrest
comprising two control devices according to the present
invention.
FIGS. 2 to 5 are side views of these control devices in various
configurations of use, and
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a modified embodiment of a control
device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows an internal portion of an automotive vehicle door.
Conventionally, this door comprises an armrest 2 which is prolonged
by a handle 4. At the level of this handle are disposed two
electric window operating controls 6. These two controls are
identical. They are disposed side by side with a height offset such
that a user can easily distinguish one control from the other
without having to look. A space is left free between the door and
the handle 4 to permit the passage of the fingers of the user which
are not used for controlling the windows.
The controls 6 each have three actuating zones indicated in FIG. 1
by the letters F, M and O. As is seen particularly in FIGS. 1 to 5,
the zones F, M and O are aligned along a concave strip having, seen
from the side (FIGS. 2 to 5), substantially the shape of an arc of
a circle. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the thumb or index finger
of a user can slide easily along the control 6. This control is
located substantially in a vertical plane but so as even better to
match the natural movement of the finger of the user, this control
can be inclined toward the door.
The controls 6 comprise a sensitive button permitting the user to
control a movement of the windows by simple touch. Such sensitive
surfaces are known to those skilled in the art. They are generally
constituted by two films on which are provided conductive tracks.
The two films are disposed on each other, the conductive tracks
facing each other. At rest, the two films are held at a distance
from each other such that the conductive tracks do not touch. When
a user touches the upper film, the conductive tracks come locally
into contact with each other thereby closing an electric circuit.
Such tactile controls are sensitive to point pressure of the finger
of a user but may also be sensitive to a movement of this finger
along the sensitive surface. In this case, at least one conductive
track of a sensitive film comprises generally a resistive region.
The principle of operation of such tactile controls is known to
those skilled in the art and is not described here in greater
detail.
Such tactile controls are integrated perfectly into the handle 4.
They permit exactly matching the external surface of this handle
such that there is no projection of these controls 6. So that the
user can easily read the controls 6 without having to look at them,
a raised flange 8 is provided at each end of the sensitive zone of
the control 6, there can also be provided on the surface of each
control 6 tactile references (notches, grooves, asperities, etc. .
. . ).
As suggested in FIG. 1, the tactile film used to make the control 6
of the window operator can be prolonged so as to integrate 1) or
several) other control or controls. In the case shown in FIG. 1,
there could also be on the same tactile film the two controls for
the window operator 6 and a control 10 for adjusting the rearview
mirrors.
FIG. 6 shows an example of serigraphy which could be used to dress
the control 6. The designs shown on this serigraphy could be made
in relief. There will be seen in this figure the three zones F, M
and O of the control 6.
For window operator controls 6, there is provided in reference
zones F and O a tactile control singularly by bearing, whilst at
the level of the zone marked M, a displacement of the user finger
is also taken into account. With such a structure, several
principles of operation, after access to the automatic mode at an
intermediate position of the corresponding window, are to be
envisaged. Three processes for control of the window operator are
described according to non-limiting examples.
In the present description, the operation in automatic mode means
that an action of short duration takes place on the control device,
permitting obtaining a predetermined window position, without the
user having to act during movement of the window. In the manual
mode, the window moves only when the user acts on the control
device and stops as soon as the action of the user has been
finished.
According to a first process, a push on the zone F permits, in the
automatic mode, closing the corresponding window. Similarly, by
bearing on the zone O, automatic opening of this window is
permitted. When the glass is entirely open or closed, a new bearing
on the zone O or F, respectively, gives rise to an automatic return
to the position that the window had before being entirely open or
entirely closed. The control device thus includes a function of
memorization and an automatic access to the memorized position is
carried out.
It can thus be provided that a further push, again in the same
zone, before the arrival in position, immediately stops the
movement of the window. If this push is carried out not in the zone
F or O but in the zone M, the window also stops but the system then
passes into the manual mode.
The zone M is thus used for control in the manual mode. When the
user slides his finger in the M toward the zone F, he controls the
raising of the window. When he withdraws his finger, the window
automatically stops. Similarly, to lower the window, the user moves
his finger located in the zone M toward the zone O. When the
desired position of the window is obtained, the user withdraws his
finger and the movement of the window stops. Thus, the user can
adjust the position of the window in a functional manner equivalent
to the manual manner existing at present in automobile windows. If
the control is not thus used during a predetermined period of time,
it can be provided that the system returns to automatic mode.
According to another process of operation, a push with the finger
of the user on the zone F or the zone O causes the window
respectively to raise or lower, corresponding to the manual
mode.
The zone M permits automatic access to an intermediate position or
to entirely open or closed positions of the window.
A movement of the finger of the user from the zone M to the zone F
gives rise to the complete closing of the window. Similarly, a
movement from the zone M toward the zone O gives rise to complete
opening of the window.
Thus, to return to the intermediate position in which the window is
located before being completely open or completely closed, the user
carries out a reverse movement, that is, from the zone O or F
toward the central zone M.
According to the third process described here, an impulse in one of
the zones F, O or M gives rise to operation in automatic mode. A
push in the zone F or O gives rise respectively to closing or
complete opening of the window whilst a push in the zone M gives
rise to a raising or lowering of the window to a position which is
proportional to the position of the location where the impulse in
zone M was carried out.
The manual mode is obtained, using an upward or downward movement
of the base on the control.
When the window is in an extreme position, a push on the
corresponding zone F or O gives rise to the return, in automatic
mode, to the position that the glass had before reaching its
entirely open or entirely closed position.
As shown by the preceding examples, the present invention permits
carrying out an ergonomic control of a window operator. The user no
longer need calibrate the force or duration of a push on a button
to pass from manual mode or automatic mode. Moreover, the automatic
mode permits access to an intermediate position.
The access to an intermediate position in the automatic mode
permits for example after passes through a tollbooth, and hence
with complete opening of the driver's window, returning to the
position of opening of the window before arrival at the booth.
Similarly, after stopping for a short duration, during which the
windows will be closed, it is possible to resume automatically the
opening of the window as it was before stopping.
The form of the controls described is also ergonomic. The user can
easily find the control of the window operator without taking his
eyes off the road. Moreover, the shape of the controls permits the
thumb or index finger of the user to move upon this command without
having to move the palm of the corresponding hand.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described
above by way of non-limiting example. It also relates to modified
embodiments within the scope of those skilled in the art.
Thus, for example, the control of the window operator could be
carried out not with the help of a surface sensitive to tactile
control, but by a control having three separate zones. One zone
could for example be provided with a roller with a path that is
limited or not, as is found for example on a computer mouse.
The processes described are given solely by way of example and are
not limiting. Other processes, particularly for controls not having
zones reacting to a movement of the finger of the user, could be
envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention.
The ergonomic shape in an arc of a circle of the control
corresponds to a preferred embodiment. Other shapes are of course
envisageable. The control could be carried out flat or else, in
lieu of having a concave shape, it could also have a convex
shape.
The control as described is located at the level of a handle of an
automotive vehicle door. A similar control could however be found
at the level of a central console, of, a dashboard or an overhead
control for an electrically opening roof.
* * * * *